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Last week, we shared how your giving inspires our ministry to bring
the Face of Jesus to others and SEE the face of Jesus in others.
Our email promised that today – on Giving Tuesday – we would reveal a surprising face that your generosity inspires.
That face… is me.
I am benefittng from your generosity.
For the first time in 31 years, I am sitting in the seat of the
program participant as part of my parish, Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in
West Chester, PA.
I am not just CLI’s Founder; I am a CLI ministry participant in my parish’s journey in Next Generation Parish… through that role, I can tell you: your philanthropy makes a profound difference.
I hope you will GIVE today in honor of Giving Tuesday and your gift
will be DOUBLED thanks to an anonymous donor who will be matching the
first $5,000.
I also hope you read more below about why this experience has been humbling and joyful. You will also read about my pastor’s incredible perspective on the impact of philanthropy.
Double Your Gift; Founder Does Double Duty
CLICK HERE to Support CLI’s Ministry on Giving Tuesday
My parish, Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in West Chester, PA, is a part of Catholic Leadership Institute’s Next Generation Parish endeavor. Recently, Sts. Peter and Paul hosted an information session to share what our parish has been doing as part of this endeavor.
I shared with our wonderful pastor, Msgr. Angelo Citino, that I would be attending just to listen and learn. I wanted to simply be an observer in the pews.
When I left that meeting, I knew I was wrong.
I could not just sit back and listen – I had to be a part of the diligent work I saw taking place. The caliber and excitement of the volunteers who were standing up and playing a role in Next Generation Parish were exceptional. Within them, I saw the leadership qualities that inspired me to found Catholic Leadership Institute. I was humbled.
Further humbling is the dedication of Msgr. Citino. He shares about his NGP experience and a unique view of the impact of your giving:
“I am very grateful for CLI’s Next Generation Parish. I am not far from retirement and when I went to the first information session about NGP, I thought, ‘Should I do this?’ Yes, I should. I must. A parish needs vibrancy; this is a way to create that. NGP is the best thing I can do to build something beautiful at this parish to hand over to my successor.
At our parish, we started with a core group of volunteers to lead the Envisioning Phase. They in turn have been inviting other laity to stand up and join them. The effort keeps growing: the laity are not just participating… they are taking ownership of ministry, involvement, and evangelization.
CLI is a wonderful cause. If you are a donor thinking about giving to support CLI’s ministry, I hope you think about your gift not just as a donation to the Church – but think of your giving as a way to evangelize people.
A gift to CLI is a way for you to play a role in the evangelization our Church needs right now. You are inspiring and aiding people to go out and bring Jesus to others. I say to all those in our parish – those involved ministry, teaching, prep, and more – you are building up this Kingdom of God. In the midst of everyday life, it is easy to lose sight of that. But we are building up the Kingdom. That’s what our jobs are. That’s what your giving does.”
One thing I have learned in this hard, humbling, and important work is this: for our Church, our parishes, and our faith to thrive, we have to invite others:
…invite others to know Jesus
…invite others into our parishes
…invite others to Mass
…invite others to share their witness
…invite others to the loving arms of Christ
Today, I invite you to give at any level to make more Catholic Leadership Institute ministry possible.
I can say with great certainly and great humility that your work empowers amazing ministry… I know because I am a proud participant in that ministry!
As a Founder and as a worker in the vineyard, I invite you, and I thank you.
Our CEO Daniel Cellucci's weekly email, the DIAL: Discerning Insights About Leadership.
CLI serves Church leaders, helping them rediscover their potential and forming them to be more intentional with those they serve.
CLI provides vision and hope about the future of the Church with a humble, yet strategic approach.
